The Creatures that We Are

After taking the picture, Gao Yang returned Wu Dahai’s phone to him.

Wu Dahai stared at the screen while holding his phone with both hands. “Shit! I’m gonna photoshop all the men out and make 100 copies to cover the walls in my place!”

“Try it if you want to die young!” White Rabbit shot daggers at him with her eyes.

Wu Dahai sent the picture to everyone.

Following Vermilion Bird, they headed to a private villa built at a good location, facing a small sandy beach.

A group of fit, skimpily-dressed men and women were enjoying a barbecue, having the time of their life with the company of music, champagne, and warm sunlight. They painted the perfect picture of a hedonistic gathering, reveling in the joy of material life.

At the pier on the beach, a blonde young man with tanned skin was playing flying trapeze. Feet attached to two waterjets, he flipped round and round in the air, propelled by water.

He was holding a large bottle in his hands, making it rain champagne as he pulled out stunts.

“Hahahaha—”

Vermilion Bird sighed and lifted her chin to indicate the flying man. “That’s X.”

Wu Dahai took off his glasses and grinned. “Shit! What a fucking showoff, more so than I am.”

White Rabbit said with her hands on her hip, “You became rich later in life, which makes you a simple big-spender. He grew up rich, which makes him more foppish than anything.”

“Well said!” Green Tea nodded in agreement.

“Hmph, I don’t know if you’re complimenting me, or complimenting me.” Wu Dahai twisted her meaning on purpose.

White Rabbit was right.

X’s father was filthy-rich. Half of the hotels in Naldives belonged to his old man.

As a rich second generation, X spent his days drinking and chasing thrills, living like he was in a fever dream. He often held parties that should not be mentioned in polite company, and he was often featured in scandalous news, his fame matching some of the most popular celebrities.

Before all this, Gao Yang didn’t care for X.

After learning that the man was the fifth-ranking awakener last midnight, though, Gao Yang had a newfound appreciation for the man. The life of absurd extravagance turned out to be a cover.

Soon, X lost his balance midair and mid-flip, falling head-first into the ocean.

He emerged from the water and laughed, taking off the equipment before heading back to the beach. He took the towel a server handed him to wipe his face, draping it on his shoulder.

He combed his long blonde hair back, revealing a handsome but frivolous-looking face.

“Aha,” he said as he approached Vermilion Bird. “Isn’t this Sister Xia?”

He gave her a toothy grin with a flirty edge, reaching out to brush the hair falling to Vermilion Bird’s cheek.

Vermilion Bird cocked her head and moved away easily. “It’s been a while, X.”

“Fuck!”

The man suddenly snarled, his expression twisted with emotions.

The partying men and women fell silent, their smiles frozen as they turned to X. There was a timidness and sense of inferiority in their gazes. The upbeat music ringing in the air seemed suddenly out of place.

X had a dark look on his face.

But two seconds later, he broke into an even brighter smile. “Are you doing it on purpose, Sister Xia? I told you that it wasn’t X as in the alphabet, but a cross.”

X crossed his two fingers and leaned toward Vermilion Bird. “Cross! As in a checkmark or a cross! Remember?”

He broke into laughter again and shouted at the others, “What are you doing? Keep the party going!”

Like robots receiving instructions, everyone on the beach sprang into actions and continued with their fun-seeking.

“Mr. Cross,” White Rabbit said. “Is it really alright for you to talk about your alias so openly?”

“They’re nothing but a group of braindead white faces. It’s fine.” X spoke derisively, his gaze shifting to White Rabbit and giving her a once-over. “Hello, pretty girl.”

“White Rabbit, Twelve Zodiac Signs.” White Rabbit gave him a stiled smile that was all business.

Without responding to her, X turned to Chen Ying, then Qing Ling and Can, and finally Green Tea, Scarlet Fox, Ronnie, and Gao Yang.

He lit up visibly. “Tsk, tsk, what a group of beautiful people. It’s my first time seeing so many hotties at once!”

He must be referring to awakeners.

“I’d die happy if I could have an orgy with all of you here!” He made a depraved statement without a stutter.

It should be offensive, yet none of them were offended.

It was because X didn’t seem lecherous when he said that; in fact, he didn’t seem to mean his words.

X must not be thinking with his lower head as much as he acts like he is, Gao Yang thought. This is only a cover.

Wu Dahai was the only one who hadn’t noticed X's disingenuous act. After a moment of stunned silence, he gave X a thumbs-up. “You’re a real one, man! In comparison, I’m nothing but an innocent boy!”

“Haha!” X turned to Wu Dahai. “No need for humility, my friend. I can tell that you’ve got limitless potential!”

“Stop that!” Wu Dahai got nervous. “I’m the pure-hearted kind. Don’t tarnish my reputation. How am I gonna find someone otherwise?”

“Why don’t you two keep each other company?” White Rabbit said with a thin smile. “You’re a perfect match.”

“Enough already. Let’s stop the chit-chat.” Vermilion Bird got back to business and lowered her voice. “X…”

“It’s Cross! Cross!” X corrected her again vehemently.

“Ahem, Mr. Cross.” Vermilion Bird’s voice grew serious. “On behalf of the Qilin Guild, the Twelve Zodiac Signs, and the Hundred Rivers Union, we hereby invite you…”

“No deal,” X cut her off.

“I haven’t told you what we’re here for!” Vermilion Bird was irritated. She was an Elder, for crying out loud; she should be shown proper respect.

“I know it must be nothing good.” X smirked.

Chen Ying took a step toward him. “Mr. Cross, why don’t we move the conversation to a more private place? We’ll explain the pros and cons. Then you can make the decision.”

X narrowed his eyes at Chen Ying, his close scrutiny unsettling her.

Suddenly, he reached out to brush Chen Ying’s hair.

He was so quick that Chen Ying didn’t even have the time to move away. She frowned in irritation.

X put the hand that had touched her hair to his nose. “Hm, your shampoo smells good. Fine, I’ll give you ten minutes for this beauty’s sake.”

What does he think he is, Casanova?!

Chen Ying tamped down her anger. Forget it. At least we’re getting somewhere.

X took them to his villa, into the basement.

The place had been renovated into a small casino, dimly lit with warm light.

“This is a safe place. You may speak openly.”

X went up to a casino table as he spoke and sat down in the dealer’s seat, resting his feet on the table with his legs crossed. At the same time, he fidgeted with a few chips in his hands.

“The one whose hair smells good, you talk.”

Chen Ying glanced at Vermilion Bird, who nodded at her.

The others each sat down around the table.

With an impassive face, Chen Ying got to the point. “I’ll be brief. The Crimson Tide is coming in seven days.”

X’s fingers paused for a moment as he twirled the chips. Without looking up, he asked casually, “How do you know?”

“Our leader has Talent: Prophet.” Chen Ying explained the way Surnamed Li’s Talent worked.

“Huh, that’s insane!” X grew a little more interested. “Keep going, pretty one.”

“We want you to join us and fight the Crimson Tide together.”

X’s expression turned disinterested again. “It’s the Crimson Tide. Been there, done that. We just have to hole up on our own.”

“Things are different this time. We’ll all die.”

X paused and said with a smile, “Are you trying to scare me, darling?”

Chen Ying patiently explained what Surnamed Li had foreseen in her dream and the conclusions the three organizations had come to.

“His heart gets carved out?” X smiled at Gao Yang. “You sure go in an epic way, buddy.”

Gao Yang stared ahead and grumbled inwardly, Why don’t you have it if you like it so much?

X turned back to Chen Ying and pointed at his own nose with excitement. “How about me, darling? How will I die?”

“I don’t know.” Chen Ying turned away. She didn’t even want to spare him another glance.

She had always preferred those who took things seriously and detest those who were careless and flippant, thinking it was fun to treat people lightly and offend them. The fact that it was an act on X’s part to protect himself didn’t make a difference to her.

“If you don’t fear death, Cross, we’ll go at once. Pretend we were never here.” Vermilion Bird wasn’t going to waste more time. “If you aren’t as fearless as you seem, however, consider joining us. This isn’t something you can tackle on your own.”

“Living is no fun to me.” X flipped the chips in his hand. They landed on the table before rolling to Vermilion Bird.

“However, I don’t want to die so easily.”

He pulled his feet back and stood up, stretching his upper body. “How about this? We’ll leave everything to fate.”

They turned to X in question.

X flipped his silky blond hair with a smile that was frivolous yet charming. “Let’s have a match. If you win, I’ll join you.”

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